Rolling wheel toy



March 12, 1963 R. LENOIR 3,080,677

ROLLING WHEEL TOY Filed July 6, I960 United States atet 3,080,677 ROLLING WHEEL TOY Raymond Lenoir, Bigoussias par Saint-Laurent-des- Hommcs, Dordogue, France Filed July 6, 1960, Ser. No. 41,096 Claims priority, application France July 7, 1959 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-220) The present invention relates to toys. More particularly, the invention relates to rolling wheel toys constituted by a mobile component of wheel-like general shape, and at least one flexible control link connected to the mobile component by means of which the user transmits the desired motion to the mobile component in order to cause the same to travel over the ground. The toys further comprise means for at least partially equilibrating the motion transmitted by the link.

The attachment point of the link on the mobile component is preferably located eccentrically of the axis of rotation thereof.

Consequently variable pulls on the link cause a rolling movement of the wheel which can be sustained while providing a direction for the path of the wheel.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense, will give a clear understanding of how the invention may be performed.

The drawing shows a perspective view of a toy according to the invention.

As illustrated in the drawing the toy comprises a wheel 1, a disc 6 and a spindle 7 to one end of which is fitted a freely pivoted link-arm 8. The link-arm 8 is weighted at one end for reason of equilibration and provided at the other with an attachment 9 located eccentrically of the axis of rotation of the wheel. A driving link 'ice 10 is connected to the link-arm 8 at attachment 9. With this arrangement, the wheel 1 is rolled along by exerting occasional judicious pulls on the link 10 without the latter being subjected to a continuously-sustained, a1- ternating motion. Thus as the link 10 is pulled the linkarm rotates to a position whereat a pull is exerted on the wheel causing the same to rotate. As the force on the link 19 is relinquished the link-arm 8 assumes a vertical position by virtue of the weighted end thereof.

The described toy is adapted for use in games wherein rules may be formulated related to the displacement of the toys. As an example, speed races may be performed with the toys. As a modification of the above, obstacles may be provided in the paths of the toys to define a circuitous course.

It is to be clearly understood, that several modifications may be made to the specific embodiment described hereinabove without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the following claim.

What I claim is:

A sportfng toy comprising, in combination, a mobile component of wheel-like general shape, a spindle centrally located on said mobile component, at least one weighted link-arm piovtally mounted on said spindle on one side of said mobile component, and a corresponding driving flexible link attached at one extremity of said link-arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,352 Wheeler June 6, 1876 2,071,041 Maggio Feb. 16, 1937 2,595,374 Studt May 6, 1952 2,928,206 Kuhn Mar. 15, 1960 

